Spotlight on Noel Clarke

Respected actor and director Noel Clarke is giving his top tips to rising filmmakers ahead of his next big screen offering - "4-3-2-1".

The 35-year-old film maestro has come a long way since his days on Doctor Who as Mickey Smith, with his screenplays Kidulthood and the sequel Adulthood having received critical acclaim. Last year he received a BAFTA Rising Star award and has worked with BBC Blast on a project to encourage teens to get creative.

He's now ready to give his top tips to encourage all budding directors or anyone with a video camera to create the next big Ad in this live webTV show. Noel is involved in the launch of the Doritos 'King of Ads' campaign, where budding movie makers and anyone with a great idea, have a chance to make the next TV ad and win up to £200,000 in the process. The winner will have their advert watched by millions as it airs across British national television from 12th June to 11th July. Not bad for your first commercial!

To find out how to succeed on the small or big screen, tune in and get some advice on being the next big thing from the current one.

Noel Clarke joins us live online at www.webchats.tv on Wednesday 17th February at 1.00 - 1.30 pm to discuss how to make a movie

For more information visit www.doritos.co.uk. The competition opens to entrants on the 16th February and closes 30th April

H: Matt Cuttle, host

A: Noel Clarke, actor and director

H: Hello I’m Matt Cuttle and welcome to the Entertainment show. Now you may have dreams of becoming the next Ridley Scott or say James Cameron, but that dream could become a reality thanks to an exciting competition. The Doritos King of Ads competition could catapult your film career as well as netting you a lovely cash prize. This really is an opportunity you can’t afford to miss. Well my guest today has stared in numerous films and TV series, notably he wrote the screenplay for Kidulthood and he’s written and directed and started in the sequel as well, and more recently he starred in Doctor Who as Mickey Smith. Ladies and gents, it’s BAFTA award winning Noel Clarke.

A: Thanks for having me

H: Now did you have a late night last night because of course you were at the Brits, I saw on your Twitter page

A: I was at the Brits, I had a semi-late night, we had a good party at the Brits, you know watched all the amazing performances, Jazee, Dizzy Rascal and Florence and the Machine and all the others and then – but I didn’t go to any of the after parties. I was invited to quite a few but I decided to go home

H: That’s very reserved of you

A: I am a reserved gentleman occasionally

H: So you were with the girls of 4321

A: I was

H: That’s the latest movie you’re directing

A: Yes I was, yes

H: How’s all that going for you?

A: Yes good man. We’re in post now so we’re just doing sound mixing and various other bits and bobs and it’s looking good, you know very excited about it. Anyone whose loved the previous two films will love this one, and actually people who didn’t like the previous two films will like this one. It opens it up to a much broader audience, it’s a lot more commercial movie and has those girls plus the usual suspects that I work with so it’s a good sort of action thrill ride

H: I’ve heard it’s – some people have been calling it a heist movie – would you call it that?

A: Well no it’s more of an actiony kind of thing. I wouldn’t say it’s a complete heist movie. There’s a heist involved

H: Oh ok

A: But the whole thing is not about them and the heist, it’s kind of – you know that’s kind of in there

H: So you’ve pretty much enjoyed what you’re working on at the moment. Are you where you want to be?

A: No never. I’m never where I want to be

H: Right

A: I always want to work harder and try and do more and achieve more because it’s just – I love what I do, I love my job, I love what I do and I just want to be able to keep doing it, so you know while people are talking about 4321, you know I’ve already thought about the next five and there in the works – they’re either written or they’re in the process and you know stuff like that

A: I started it and then I was like, I need to try this acting thing man. I’ll cut – stop for a few months, try this acting thing, see how it goes and if it doesn’t work in maybe a year then I’ll just come back and do this stuff

H: So how did that go for you, was there any formal training or was it something you sort of fell into? Lucky break?

A: Something I always liked, I mean I did – you know drama in schools and I went to little classes and stuff like that and I did – one of my A levels was in theatre and you know, but I couldn’t afford any drama schools and all that sort of stuff and then you know I was working in a gym in Kensington and you know a lot of people from the industry came in there and obviously met the right person who agreed to let me audition for a pilot, and then I got that part and then it kind of went on from there

H: And then you did Auf Wiedersehen Pet

A: Yes I did

H: And you also -

A: Yes that was great

H: What was so good about that –

A: Well like my mum used to watch it when I was a kid, I remember watching it you know Jimmy Nail and Kevin Whately and you know, you know Timothy Spall,

H: Yes yes, Timothy Spall

A: Timothy Spall a fantastic actor, Tim Healy you know and then – so to be in it, it was like a show from 18 years ago and to be part of it was just amazing

H: And most people will know you of course as Mickey Smith from Doctor Who on a Saturday night

A: Yes

H: Appearing here and there. What’s it like starring in very serious roles like Sam in Kidulthood and then being like eaten by a wheelie bin in Doctor Who, I mean is there a very different mindset for that or is it just acting and you fulfil a role and off you go?

A: It’s just acting really, you just fulfil a role and you do it well sometimes and sometimes not so well. I mean it’s just something that I love to do, and I actually prefer to be able to do different things. I mean one journalist described my career as schizophrenic, the parts I play, but I love that. I would rather be playing Mickey one minute and then playing Sam another minute and then playing this Roman soldier that I’m doing in Neil Marshall’s film Centurian Dan, than just be playing the same parts all the time

H: So it’s variety for you that you love?

A: Yes I love it, yes I think – I think that’s better. I think it’s better to be an actor that can hopefully diversify and not just be an actor that does the same thing all the time

H: Ok we had a question now actually that’s just come in. It’s from Doctor Who / online.co.uk – “what do you find easier, writing, acting or directing?” So not what you enjoy more but what you find easier. Or do they all have their own challenges?

A: They all have their own challenges. I probably find writing easiest, but it’s probably the one I enjoy the least

H: Ok

A: Because when you’re acting you’re on set and you’re there and I love it, but I try to focus as hard as I can and do as well as I can. When you’re directing it’s the same thing, and when you’re directing it’s so intense because everyone is, you know, wanting a piece of you. But you’re there, you’re on set. When you’re writing, which I do find easy, I can think of an idea, oh great, and I can write it, but you never know if it’s going to get made. So you could write an amazing script that you love, then you give it to people and they’re like – we don’t like it

H: Do you find that hard, the pitching process that you’ve put a lot of love and slog into something and then you take it around and people are like – oh I’m not sure, I’ll get back to you –

A: Yes is do find it difficult still because I would think – I would say actually for every film that you’ve seen, so Kidulthood, Adulthood, 4321 that’s coming and whatever else comes, whatever one you guys see, there’s probably three that have been rejected

H: Wow. And do you – do you write about mostly what you know about or do you sometimes take it a field, use your imagination –

A: No I – I mean Kidulthood was definitely based partly on my earlier years, but I kind of just write where my imagination goes, or write things that I would love to see. I mean I would love to see – man whose doing that, you do it. And then I’ll write it you know? That’s kind of how I write

A: I don’t know about inspiration but people I really definitely sort of – yes I guess inspiration or more admiration – Philip Seymour Hoffman I think is a great actor

H: Yes

A: You know William H Macy, I love Samuel L Jackson but he’s not so much an actor – a couple of films he’s really put in a performance but other than that he’s just Samuel, isn’t he?

H: Yes

A: As long as he just says “this is a tasty burger” or whatever, it’s just Samuel, but I just love the guy, you know?

H: Quite good

A: Well it was alright. I wasn’t really doing it in my proper voice

H: Maybe if they make Pulp Fiction 2 you could be in that

A: Oh man can you imagine? Quentin make Pulp Fiction 2 somehow, just do something. Yes yes, probably those 3. Julianne Moore is a good actress, Jennifer Connelly, there’s a whole bunch of people. There’s a good few UK people coming up as well, I know I didn’t mention any there but there’s a lot of young talent coming up. And so yes there’s lots of people that I want to work with and you know

H: Good stuff. We’ve got another one coming in

A: Sweet

H: Emma from Norfolk – “you can only take one DVD onto the island” –

A: Pulp Fiction

H: Straight away it’s Pulp Fiction?

A: Yes, yes

H: What do you love about that? It’s one of my favourite films as well

A: It’s just great. My second one would be Clerks but Pulp Fiction. It’s just great man. It was a film that opened my eyes, because until that point you know when I was in college at the time, sixth form college at the time, you know we had these old stuffy teachers that were like this is a film and you have to learn this, and my monacle - I’m just going to wash my monacle – bla blab la. And then we had a young teacher that was his first job, he was like 23, and it was his first job out of university and he had the unfortunate task of taking our class, and they were like you have to teach them Shakespeare and this is that – and as soon as they walked out, he’s like right Pulp Fiction –

H: Nice, good

A: Clerks, go, watch these films

H: I had a similar experience actually

A: It was out of sequence, I was like this film’s out of sequence

H: What’s going on?

A: I didn’t know you could do that?

H: Because you’re a similar age to me and when I watched Pulp Fiction I remember that was like nothing I’d seen before, it was like – it was ground-breaking in terms of being out of sequence and just moving around so much that it all comes together at the very end

A: It was brilliant and Clerks was like two guys talking about stuff that we talked about

H: Yes

A: People were like this is ridiculous, who talks about this stuff- I was like I do! I talk about this stuff you know, so films like this were great

H: So let’s move onto what you’re working on at the moment – you’re doing this competition for Doritos,

A: Yes indeed

H: King of Ads. Tell us a little bit more about that

A: Yes the Doritos King of Ads competition is basically giving people you know, not just young people, but people a chance to potentially break into the industry by uploading or making with any sort of camera you can, a 29 second clip, or ad – you know short film, as long as it advertises the Doritos, that will be aired throughout the world cup, and potentially you could win up to £200,000 and it’s really just – for me I’m a big advocate of new people breaking into the industry so we can have fresh films and fresh ideas, and you know just – rejuvenate the British Movie industry and you know this is a platform for those people because 29 seconds is so short, you think well that’s so short, but it’s a chance for you to be really creative and come up with a really good idea that can cause conversation, that can make people kind of laugh or evoke some sort of emotion, and yes they can do that and if they win, if they go up to £200,000 and they win £200,000 then you know potentially if they are people that want to make films they can use some of that to make a bigger film and hopefully they’ll be noticed and – there’s not much bigger audiences than when the world cup’s on so I mean people – their stuff will really be seen by a lot of people

H: And it’s all about the idea isn’t it? That’s the key. It’s not necessarily have you got the best camera equipment, have you got a film crew –

A: No it’s about the idea

H: And especially with films such as Paranormal Activity that’s just come out

A: Blair Witch when it came out

H: There’s a big thing at the moment for having films that do look a bit more gritty, I mean even Kidulthood and Adulthood don’t – aren’t big – they’re not big Hollywood budgets

A: No

H: But they really do, the characters in there and the idea is what makes it compelling

A: Yes. And then you can take that sort of thing onto the next level where District Line was kind of almost that but it was the Hollywood level of that but it still wasn’t the mega, mega billions, do you know what I mean?

H: That’s one of my favourite films of this year actually

A: It’s a great film, yes

H: Ok well let’s have a look at the last advert that one, this was in 2008, it was a Doritos advert and it didn’t use any actors, it used stock motion animation, have a look at it now

Video Footage

H: Well that looks like a lot of fun there. One actor in there actually, just opening the door, crunching on the Doritos, but –

A: There’s always one isn’t there?

H: There’s always got to be one. But again I mean that was probably made on –

A: A shoestring

H: A very small budget, but they go on to win that and maybe that’s inspired them to go on and carry on

A: Yes I mean hopefully you never know, I mean I don’t know who did that, they could be making films right now, so it’s – it’s a good opportunity for someone

H: So if somebody wants to get into the industry, and I know it’s a really competitive industry because I work in it myself as well – what do you suggest they do, maybe they’re just coming out of school or college and – either they could go down the university route but if they don’t want to go down that route, what would you suggest?

A: I mean it is incredibly difficult but you know initiatives and competitions like this are a good way of attempting to do that, and they also help – even if you don’t win it’s a way of really showing your creativity, you know that could inspire you to do something else. But you know generally it is a lot of hard work and a lot of dedication but also for me it’s a do it thing. It’s like don’t always wait for things to happen, don’t wait for things like this to come around. You should be able – you should just do these things, you should try and create stuff. No one paid me to write Kidulthood I just sat down and did it, and even after Kidulthood came out, nobody paid me to write Adulthood, it was just something I wanted to do and I sat down and did it, and those films got made. You just have to kind of – you just kind of have to just use your initiative and go for it yourself

H: And also you know you’re not alone in this, you’ve got friends and relatives that can help out

A: They can help out

H: Maybe if you’ve got an uncle whose got a camera –

A: Your old mum could be a movie star, you never know, your grandma. Grandma Hattie could be the next star, the next Meryl Streep

H: That’s a scary thought. What would she be doing?

A: Grandma stuff, I don’t know!

H: Knitting, knitting, crisps, that sort of thing

A: Yes

H: We’ve got another question in from James Simpson “the competition sounds great” he reckons he could get his uni mates involved to produce a winner

A: There you go

H: What’s your advice for a winning story formula? Obviously they’ve only got 29 seconds – you write, is it keep it simple?

A: Simplicity can be the best. I mean I would say to – is it James?

H: It was yes James, yes

A: I would say to James I mean just try and be memorable, right? Without necessarily being too clever, try and be memorable. There was a beer advert years ago right, and it didn’t do anything but have the guy say “whasssuup?”

H: That’s right, yes

A: I still remember that. People said that for years after that

H: People even parodied it on the internet

A: Parodied it, it was everywhere, yes, and that was the simplest – people have been saying what’s up for years, but they just turned it into that thing and it was amazing and it was very simple, so maybe it’s something like that you know, maybe it’s something like that. But it’s about being creative, possibly with simplicity, or you can be creative cleverly, it depends on how much talent or how much technique you have, you know? But just go for it man

H: I’d say being an advert it’s got to have something catchy, it’s got to have a catchphrase –

A: Something memorable

H: Something memorable –

A: Yes definitely

H: Or something surprising and something you don’t expect to happen

A: I want it to elicit emotion so at the end of it I want to be like boo hoo but I want to buy those crisps, or laugh like man that was funny, you know what I mean?

H: Yes

A: So it’s not necessarily about the crisps but they feature in it, you know?

H: I’ve got another question, I want to ask you another question about Doctor Who

A: Go ahead

H: I’m a massive fan. Christopher Eccleston, we liked him didn’t we?

A: Yes great Doctor

H: David Tennant

A: Great Doctor

H: Arguably the best Doctor. Which was your favourite of the two? They were very different but which was your favourite working with them both?

A: Well working with the people, working with the people equally – Eccleston and David equally. Working with the people

H: But in terms of the character

A: In terms of the Doctor – well I think I would say David. I spent more time with David

H: Yes

A: I spent you know – I spent – was only in 3 episodes of season one, I was in a lot more of season two including the Christmas thing, so I probably spent a year and a half to two years with David

H: Hasn’t it been five years with David?

A: It’s been five years total

H: Time flies doesn’t it?

A: I know, probably spent two years total with David and probably about six months with Chris so probably David as the tenth doctor would be my favourite. But as guys, as real life guys I mean equal, they’re great guys, I’ve worked with them –

H: Yes

A: I’d work with them tomorrow if they wanted to work with me

H: I’d like to work with them as well – got any parts coming up?

A: Yes possibly

H: Good. As an alien maybe

A: You’d have to audition

H: What even as a Dalek?

A: Yes, yes

H: That’s ridiculous

A: They don’t just put anyone in those Daleks you know

H: Really?

A: Yes

H: What – who do they put in them?

A: I can’t tell you that

H: Small people?

A: No no I can’t tell you

H: Oh. It’s an industry -

A: It’s a trade secret. Yes exactly

H: Fair enough. Also the assistants, you have Rose and you ended up – it seems like you were with Martha at the end there

A: He was yes

H: Is that right? So –

A: I think Mickey secretly is a player man

H: He’s having a bit of a nibble on all the doctor’s girlfriends

A: Because we all know that Rose was his girlfriend, so we know –

H: Yes

A: And at the end he’s married to Martha so –

H: There’s a bit of a romance going on with the doctor there so yes –

A: Well he’s – you know, what can I say?

H: And what about future – like with Stephen Moffat, is there any talk maybe of rocking up –

A: Not that I know of. I’m kind of busy with the -

H: You are busy aren’t you?

A: Busy with my films and stuff so I would – I’m doing those, so until I hear any different, as far as I’m aware, it’s all done

H: And looking forward as well, there’s rumours of an Olympic movie coming out, is that right?

A: Yes yes

H: Do you want to tell us a bit more about that? Apparently it’s a rocky-type thing? Is that right?

A: Yes

H: Not going to make them trudge through the snow with a log on their back are you?

A: No no no. That’s not a bad idea, seeing a girl do that

H: On a bike next time

A: Yes. Damion Jones who was one of the producers on Kidulthood and Adulthood and I have created an Olympic movie which a lot of people are willing to get on board with, which could be like THE Olympic movie for 2012 to come out and it’s kind of Rocky meets Any Given Sunday meets I guess Chariots of Fire because it involves running, it’s about the girl’s relay team, so you know we’re trying – we’re pushing for that to get made and to come out around that time, and I think you know it will be good to have that kind of feel-good film just before we actually have the Olympics and mess it all up!

H: Well hopefully not, hopefully we’ll get a few golds

A: Yes I think we’ll get loads, I’m really glad that we’re pushing the athletes, but we should do that all the time not just when it’s held in London

H: Totally. UK Sport, sort it out

A: Yes sort it out

H: Right we’ve got another question from Thomas burns Scully

A: He’s not related to Mr Burns is he?

H: I don’t know or Dana Scully from that program, forgotten what it’s called –

A: That would be a weird child

H: X Files that was it

A: Yes right Thomas, what is it?

H: Right – “dealing with rejection is a big part of the film industry. You must have had your fair share of being turned down –

A: Yes

H: So when that has happened how have you coped with it? Have you just got back on the horse?”

A: Yes I mean rejection is a big – is a massive part of the industry, like I said you know for probably every film you see probably three have been rejected, and for every part you’ve seen me in, maybe 15 or 20 I haven’t got, I mean it’s a massive part of the industry. I would say –

H: A lot of auditions for –

A: Yes I would say you probably get rejected – you’ll get rejected more times than you get jobs until you get to a certain position, but - but for me I would always look at it as – you know if you’re not right for that part you’re not right for that part and prettier girls than them have said no to me, you know so you just walk out

H: And don’t take it personally as well

A: You can’t take it personally, you can’t take it personally because a lot of the time, probably 99% of the time it’s not personal, it’s just the director wants someone else, and you literally have to just brush it off. You can’t you know –there are times – I’ve been up for massive movies like massive movies that I haven’t got, but then you go and see them in the cinema and you can’t go there I wish – it’s done, it’s over. If you didn’t get it, you didn’t get it and that’s it. You’ve just got to move on and you’ll get something else

H: Maybe that frees you up for something else that is actually better than -

A: Well actually I got offered I did get offered something which I won’t mention, like 3 or 4 times and then it was at the reverse, I didn’t want to do it and then I went for something I really wanted to do and I didn’t get that, and I just was like man, I don’t know what’s going to happen and then like the day after I got Auf Wiedersehen Pet and that’s led onto everything else so –

H: Well there you go

A: It just works –

H: Some would call it fate wouldn’t they?

A: Yes some would. I call it luck or – but yes just don’t take it personally, definitely

H: Exactly. Ok one more question from Matt Eton – “is it true Daleks are controlled by dwarfs?” That’s apparently a rumour that’s going round. It’s what it says here. From Matt

A: Is it true –

H: That Daleks are controlled by dwarfs?

A: No it’s not true

H: I don’t think it’s true

A: In fact one of the – I won’t tell you what planet he’s from, but one of the people in there is over 6 ft

H: Seriously?

A: Yes

H: Not from Gallifray, you can be sure of that. Ok so moving away from Doctor Who, what’s your final word for people that want to get involved in movies, want to get involved in acting etc and just want to go for it, what’s your word of advice and inspiration?

A: Stay dedicated, keep on it and do it, don’t just talk about it. Don’t ever say to a mate oh I want to write a script, just write it, write it, just write it, get it done and find ways to make films. It doesn’t – remember these days you can buy a beautiful HD camera anywhere, right, you can make a film. You can do it, there’s editing equipment on laptops, you can do stuff like that and I think it’s good, and if you want to get into this campaign just go to www.doritos.co.uk

H: Excellent, Noel thank you very much for joining us today

A: Thank you very much

H: Thank you. Ok that’s all we’ve got time for today, thanks for coming in, as I’ve just said. Guys if you think you’ve got the creativity to produce a TV advert and with a chance of winning up to £200,000, it is worth a go. The Doritos King of Ads competition does close on the 30th April though 2010 obviously so do get your director’s hat on for more information as Noel just said go to Doritos.co.uk and you can follow all the competition on Twitter and Facebook as well. Thanks for watching and good luck with it